EUROP. J. OBSTET. GYNEC. REPROD. BIOL.,1974, 4/2, 83-85. EXCERPTA MEDICA

Book reviews

Hormones and Antagonists

P. 0. Hubinont, S. M. Hendeles and P. Preumont (eds.) 4th International Seminar on Reproductive Physiology and Sexual Endocrinology, Brussels, 1972 S. Karger, Base1 - Munich - Paris - London - New York - Sydney, 1972 (xii+488 pp., 158 Figs., 2 color plates, 85 Tables) Sfr. 112,-: US $ 34.75; DM 104; L 14.25

The study of hormones antagonists is quite a new field of endocrinology and although the Conference was held in May, 1972, the proceedings contain many lectures which are still up-to-date. For a number of years scientists have been trying to anta- gonize several hormones in order to intervene in biological processes, so that a process such as repro- duction might be controlled in a new way by the administration of hormone antagonists. These anta- gonists can themselves be hormones, or other com- pounds. Theoretically, hormones can be antagonized at their production site, during their transport or at the site of the cells on which they act. This book mainly contains studies of antagonists of the hypo- thalamic luteinizing hormone releasing factor, throphic hormones and prolactin and progesto- gens, androgens and estrogens.

Although clinical trials with these antagonists on the human species are still in the state of preliminary reports, it seems justified to continue, and even to spend more time with this field of endocrinology. The discussions after each section contain many remarks of participators at the conference, drawing new light on several subjects. I am sure that every- one interested in endocrinology will find many items in this book worth reading.

P. G. Hart, Utrecht

Practical Cytodiagnosis

Yoshio Ishizuka Urban and Schwarzenberger, Munchen - Berlin - Vienna, 1972 (viii+249 pp., 75 Figs., 149 mostly colored Figs. on Tables) DM 86.-

The increasing number of papers on the subject of cytodiagnosis proves that this method is one of the most important for the detection of carcinoma, par- ticularly in the early stages. This book provides an excellent introduction to the basic principles of cyto- diagnosis.

The very carefully selected color prints are mostly accompanied by schematic drawings which explain cellular details. Chapters are devoted to the collect- ing techniques of specimens, the preservation and staining of sections and to the reporting of cytologic findings.

Modern methods of quantitative cell analysis and automatized cytodiagnosis are omitted. A new Papanicolaou classification is advised. It is to be regretted that instead of a cytomorphological de- scription of the findings a slightly modified Papani- colaou classification was introduced.

Nevertheless, this book provides an excellent in- troduction for those commencing the study of diag- nostic cytology.

M. E. Boer-Meisel, Amsterdam

Der enttiindliche und der atrophische Abstrich

J. Jenny Verlag Hans Huber, Bern-Stuttgart-Vienna, 1973 (109 pp., illustrated) Sfr. 38.--; DM 34.-

84

The title of this German book promises a treatise on the inflammatory and atrophic vaginal smear. The book is divided into three parts and the title is misleading insofar as only part two, containing a quarter of the total number of pages, is devoted to the inflammatory and irritative cytologic patterns of the vaginal smear.

This type of smear is known to every gynecologic cytologist to lead sometimes to a wrong diagnosis of cancer or, even worse, to mask malignancy. The cytologic changes are described in connection with the histopathology and are dealt with in an explicit and concise manner. No mention is made, however, of the effects of therapeutic irradiation on the cyto- logic aspect of the vaginal and cervical smear. The atrophic smear, separately announced in the title, is allotted no more than six pages. Part one of the book is concerned with an extensive review of the local (inflammatory) and general reactions of the body to living and non-living irritants. Part three covers 75 of the 190 pages and deals with the bac- teriology, symptomatology, diagnosis and therapy, not only of vaginitis and cervicitis but even of endo- metritis and salpingitis. Here, only brief references are made to some of the cytologic aspects.

Although all parts of the book read well, appear up-to-date and are illustrated with many schematic drawings (no photographs), it is difficult to re- commend the book as a whole to any special group of readers. For cytotechnicians, for whom it is es- pecially meant according to the preface, too little cytology and too much indirectly related clinical information is presented. Gynecologic cytologists, pathologists and medical students will find all of the material presented here in a more logical con- text in their pathology and gynecology textooks

H. C. S. Wallenburg, Rotterdam

Ovarian Tumors

N. A. Janovski and T. L. Paramanandhan Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart, 1973 (x + 245 pp., 198 Figs., 18 Tables) DM 59.-

Ovarian tumors are still a fascinating subject. Jointly with Dubrauszky, Janovski has previously demon-

Book reviews

strated his interest in this subject in his beautiful ‘Atlas of Gynecologic and Obstetric Diagnostic Histopathology’ (1967).

This new book is divided into two parts, the first dealing with ovarian tumors, separated into six groups according to the most simple classification.

Tumors of paramesonephric origin are discussed in the first group. The adenoid tumor is mentioned as a special neoplasm. The malignant types include endometrioid carcinomas which Santesson has par- ticularly pointed out. The authors maintain that a paramesonephric clear-cell carcinoma also exists.

The second group comprises the tumors of sex- undifferentiated mesenchymal origin, in which benign mixed mesodermal tumors stand out.

An interesting group comprises tumors of sex- differentiated mesenchymal origin. The hilus cell tumor is described as a neoplasm separate from the androblastomas, but this is not really correct. The luteoma gravidarum is also included in this group.

The fourth group comprises the tumors of germ cell origin, and includes Teilum’s rare endodermal sinus tumor and the gonadoblastoma.

In the group of tumors from mesonephric rests, mention is made of mesonephric carcinomas, the clear cell type of which closely resembles the above mentioned paramesonephric tumor.

The sixth group, finally, consists of tumors arising from heterotopic tissue in the ovary. Whether the adrenal cell rest tumor should come under this heading is doubtful, because adrenal tissue does not occur in the ovary.

A separate chapter is devoted to a description of so-called ‘systematic carcinomas’, i.e. multiple malig- nant tumors which occur simultaneously in the female genital organ.

Other chapters discuss metastatic tumors, com- plications caused by the tumor, enzymatically active stroma cells in ovarian tumors, hormonal symptoms of non-hormonal tumors, retention cysts, the poly- cystic ovary syndrome (Stein-Leventhal) and corti- costromal hyperplasia (hyperthecosis).

The second part of the book deals with the pathology of the Fallopian tubes (some 20 tumors!) and of the uterine ligaments, and discusses paro- variancysts, mesonephric cysts, endosalpingiosis, etc.

An extensive bibliography is presented. The black and white figures are generally good.